Dental Traumatic Injuries

Trauma xray
Treating Dental Trauma

Dental Traumatic Injuries

Pulp damage is sometimes caused by a blow to the mouth, and the endodontist specializes in treating these traumatic injuries. For example, a blow to a child's permanent tooth that is not fully developed can cause the root to stop growing. A procedure called apexification stimulates bone to be deposited at the end of the root which makes it possible to then save the tooth through a root canal procedure. An endodontist is specially trained in procedures for replanting teeth that have been knocked out of their sockets.

What is Pulpal Regeneration and Apexification?

These procedures are performed on permanent teeth that are not fully developed, most often in children.  They take the patient out of pain, and the goal is to allow the root of the tooth to continue to develop. The root will grow in length, the tip of the root will close and the walls of the root canal will thicken.  A fully mature tooth with thicker dentine walls is desirable for long term retention. In other words, the tooth longevity will improve.

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